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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has 鈥渁n amazing reputation and strong programs in many different majors,鈥� including notable programs in business and engineering. One student chose U of I for 鈥渢he breadth of the engineering program and the opportunities associated with it.鈥� Students appreciate the variety and quality of academic programs available, with one student saying, 鈥淸I knew] that if I needed to change majors (which I ended up doing), I would still be getting a great degree.鈥� No matter your major, there are 鈥渁 lot of resources to supplement your studies.鈥� These include a 鈥渇antastic library system,鈥� 鈥減henomenal advisors,鈥� and 鈥渃ountless on-campus resources such as the Career Center, Writers Workshop, Office of Minority Student Affairs, free tutoring services, and the Study Abroad Office.鈥� Moreover, the university boasts more than 175 research centers and institutes, which are 鈥渟uch a benefit for research projects鈥� and one reason why 鈥渢he research support is phenomenal on campus.鈥� The 鈥渧ery approachable鈥� faculty emphasizes hands-on experience and applied learning in their classes. One student shares, 鈥淭he fieldwork (tons of fieldwork) that they make us do really helped in getting used to the field.鈥� These 鈥渨onderful鈥� professors are 鈥渘ot just good at research but also instructing and mentoring.鈥� As one student points out, 鈥淎s an underclassman, many classes I鈥檝e taken have been with very large classes,鈥� but 鈥渢he professors are engaging and know how to keep a class of 700-plus entertained.鈥� Getting admitted to U of I is no small feat; as one student says, 鈥淚t obviously takes a lot to get into this school.鈥� However, the hard work pays off, as the university reports that 90 percent of graduates are employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.

While the size of the university can seem daunting at first, 鈥渢here are so many opportunities to get involved on the floor of your residence hall, in organizations, [and] in your classes, that it鈥檚 hard not to make friends and close relationships.鈥� The reasonable in-state tuition attracts a lot of students from Illinois, so 鈥渁 majority of the students that you meet here will be from the Chicago suburbs.鈥� However, you鈥檒l also find 鈥渁 wide variety of students from all across the world.鈥� One student says, 鈥淯niversity of Illinois houses so many different types of students that the only way we are alike is our dedication to getting an education and our loyalty to UIUC.鈥� Most students value these differences: 鈥淭he diversity of the students here is astounding. Race, religion, major, you鈥檝e got it all.鈥�

U of I has an 鈥渋ncredibly lively鈥� campus with 鈥渢housands of clubs, two gyms and several sports facilities, and [an] array of establishments to explore on Green Street.鈥� The university also has 鈥渙ne of the largest Greek communities in the country,鈥� with more than 60 residential Greek houses. Students note that while 鈥減eople here like to party鈥�there are a lot of other fun things to do.鈥� According to some students, 鈥渢he bars in downtown Champaign are great and super relaxed, plus there is an awesome music scene that most people don鈥檛 expect from a college town.鈥� Arts and culture thrive here, and many enjoy 鈥済oing to the Krannert Center to see plays or concerts鈥� at one of the center鈥檚 four theaters or even just going to 鈥渕ovie theater and mall...on Saturday afternoons. Champaign-Urbana seems small to city kids, but to me, it鈥檚 the land of opportunity.鈥� Life at U of I 鈥渋s busy, but rewarding,鈥� and these students wouldn鈥檛 have it any other way.

The typical University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate has a starting salary of around $64,200, and 47 percent report that their job has a great deal of meaning. Students feel that 鈥測ou can鈥檛 get any better alumni networking and leadership opportunities than you do at UIUC.鈥� Many students feel that 鈥渢here are a lot of UIUC alumni in agencies鈥� that they want to work for. Students applaud 鈥渢he availability of highly regarded finance internships and full-time opportunities.鈥� The Career Center at Illinois offers multiple job fairs for several different sorts of careers and majors as well as other excellent resources like the job board I-Link and drop-in career counseling.